Forgotten no more!
St Thomas steps into the future with opening of Morant Bay Urban Centre
Published:Friday | May 16, 2025 | 12:11 AMMickalia Kington/Gleaner Writer
Amid light drizzle described as “showers of blessings”, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness declared on Thursday that St Thomas was no longer a forgotten parish.
With several government members of parliament, public sector and civic leaders as well as Jamaica Labour Party supporters in attendance as the Morant Bay Urban Centre was officially opened, Holness claimed that the project represents the closure of decades of underdevelopment, disinvestment, and infrastructural neglect.
“Today, we emphatically declare that St Thomas is firmly on the path for the fulfilment of a true vision of a prosperous, growing, fair, and equitable society,” he said.
Holness shared his pride for the new municipal building but said that he was most proud of the courthouse as the new structure comes in the 160th year since the Morant Bay Rebellion.
While the St Thomas Municipal Corporation will be relocated to the urban centre, the most modern court facility in the Caribbean, according to the prime minister, will be also located on grounds where up to five court sessions can happen concurrently.
This, he said, was deeply symbolic considering that a part of the spark for the Morant Bay Rebellion was that the small farmers couldn’t get justice.
“For many, there is an expectation that for the wrongs that were done to us and our forebears and our ancestors that there must be reparations. And I believe that there must be reparations. And eventually, inevitably, there will be reparations,” he stated. “While I believe that there must be reparations, I am not going to wait on it.”
The Morant Bay Urban Centre is a $6-billion development housing numerous government agencies, including the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA); the National Housing Trust (NHT), the National Water Commission, and even the tax office.
CONNECTED TO GOV’T
“So the people of St Thomas don’t have to travel to Kingston to be connected with their Government,” Holness said. “They can come right here.”
The centre is a mix of public and private entities with a branch for the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), the parish’s first KFC branch, along with offices for the HEART TRUST/NSTA, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, the Jamaica Information Service, the Jamaica Postal Corporation, and the Jamaica Public Service Company.
Among the other private companies that will be located at the commercial unit of the centre are Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, Stationery World, Noraldu Limited, Ribbiz Lounge, Taurus Gardens, Devon House, Express Fitness, Memories Operators Gaming Limited, Orion Insurance Brokers and Tiny Tings Baby Store, Camp Hill Enterprise, JJ’s Global Shipping and Customs Brokerage, SSMC Express, and Knutsford Express.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck reflected on the state of the parish nearly a decade ago when the traverse was a “lengthy, bumpy, rocky journey”.
A key highlight of the development is the establishment of a new courthouse, a move Chuck said holds deep symbolic and functional value.
“This development of a brand-new court represents more than bricks and mortar. The newly constructed St Thomas Parish Court – a symbol of justice, order, and service – will now be housed in space that reflects the dignity and importance of its work,” he said.
Chuck emphasised that the new facilities would provide greater efficiency, security, and comfort for staff and citizens alike, calling it a meaningful investment in the rule of law and a clear message that every parish, every community, deserves world-class public services.
The ceremony marked the opening of a local first-of-its-kind development – a groundbreaking public-private partnership set to drive growth, investment, and opportunity in the parish.